Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack amongst honorees
WASHINGTON, DC – October 11, 2016 – Daytime Emmy nominated talk show host Wendy Williams will host the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s (TMCF) 28th Annual Awards Gala on November 21, 2016 at the Washington Hilton. Gala honorees include Shelley Broderick, Dean of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law; Benjamin F. Wilson, Managing Principal at Beveridge Diamond; Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter and Square; and Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
This year’s Host for the Annual Awards Dinner, Wendy Williams, is a media mogul, actress, comedian, entrepreneur, designer, and author best known for her nationally syndicated talk show. With 2.4 million daily viewers, Wendy Williams remains a leader amongst her peers. This black-tie event celebrates the achievements of the nation’s foremost visionaries who have used their influence to positively impact the lives of students attending publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“We are celebrating our 28th Annual Gala with a stellar group of transformational individuals from the entertainment, public, private, academic and legal sectors at our Gala,” said TMCF President & CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. “Wendy Williams has transformed the traditional scope of a media personality. Jack Dorsey has transformed how we communicate and get information globally. Sec. Vilsack’s work in agriculture to export the American brand deserves recognition and Dean Broderick represents a pillar within her community at UDC to extend the civil rights and social movements.”
Proceeds from the 28th Annual Awards Gala, themed “Developing Minds…Delivering Dreams,” enable TMCF to continue its vision of changing the world one leader at a time. With 98% of all revenue going directly to HBCU students and schools, TMCF’s gala is one of Washington DC’s largest annual fundraising events with over $4.8 million raised in 2015.
“We cannot continue to create opportunity pipelines for close to 300,000 HBCU students in 47 publicly-supported HBCUs without events like our gala,” continued Taylor. “There is no doubt that this annual event will continue to change lives and help fulfill dreams.”
Select tables for the Gala are still available. For more information about TMCF, the Gala or this year’s honorees, please visit tmcf.org/partners-donors/get-involved/events/gala/.
NOTE: Members of the working press, who wish to cover this event, must obtain press credentials. To obtain credentials, contact Paris Dennard at paris.dennard@tmcf.org.
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About Thurgood Marshall College Fund
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), established in 1987 is named for the U.S. Supreme Court’s first African-American Justice. TMCF represents all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and its member-schools include the 47 publicly-supported HBCUs. With TMCF member-schools educating 80% of all students attending HBCUs, TMCF helps students with a clear intention to succeed acquire a high-quality college education at an affordable cost. TMCF also efficiently connects high performing, world-ready students with top tier employment opportunities—access that students or employers might not have on their own. Through its scholarships and programs, TMCF plays a key role in preparing the leaders of tomorrow.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF and its initiatives, visit: tmcf.org.
